We are one of those few fortunate parents who thank Allah (swt) for giving us the opportunity to provide education to our two very young boys at Annoor Academy, the Islamic school in Knoxville, from the early years of their lives. In addition to providing our children with general education as required by the State of Tennessee, Annoor Academy has made significant contributions in imparting Islamic Knowledge and Values to our children. The school staff and administration have put tremendous effort, with the limited resources they have, to make it a better and a successful Islamic school in our community. We ask Allah (swt) to make Annoor Academy of Knoxville the best Islamic school in East Tennessee.
Wassalam, Iqbal Ahmed
As a first grader at AAK, my child is working far above the average grade level curriculum. I am so pleased that she is receiving well-rounded education that includes academics, religion and learning a second language.
It is very important
that our children are raised with a religious and moral education from a young
age so that they are prepared for what they face in life as young adults.
Thank you,
Sue Shalaby, CHS Teacher
Dear Br. Shalaby and AAK Staff:
I would like to thank you all for your hard work and commitment over the past several years. As many of you know my husband and I are staunch supporters of this school and feel strongly that we should continue to strive for growth and improvement. It seems timely to share some of our thoughts about AAK.
First and foremost, we want our children to grow in an environment that shares and encourages our Islamic values. Knowing that they are being guided and surrounded by Muslims, who at the very least believe in Allah, the Quran, the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), and the five pillars of Islam, eases our concerns and strengthens our resolve to continue their AAK pursuits.
In addition, we are exceedingly pleased with their ongoing development of knowledge in Quran memorization and Arabic language. These are skills which can only be taught in depth in such a setting.
Finally, their overall academic achievements have been excellent, and we are sure, far superior to what could be accomplished in a public school setting. Being in a smaller school, with teachers who know their students well, creates the opportunity to focus on each Childs strengths and weaknesses in a very specific way and intercept problems long before they become lifelong issues.
Fathi and I appreciate your ongoing efforts and look forward to our future as AAK parents.
Sr. Becky Husain
My child is developing and growing in this wholesome, Islamic environment as a confident Muslim American. She has great teachers to look up to and enriching friends. She is proud of her school, friends and teachers, and more so for being a Muslim in America. She is so much concerned about America's welfare. She often talks about writing a letter to the President regarding how to deal with some problems and issues in America and how to help all Americans as well as the whole world.
M. Islam Hussain
"Annoor Academy has provided us with a school where our children not only can get the worldly education but also can be good Muslims as well as good human beings.”
Mohammad Shafi
As a parent of four children—all of them attend Annoor Academy (AAK)—I thank Allah day and night for this opportunity. I could not even imagine living in Knoxville without AAK.
Fatima, my oldest, has been in AAK all her school life. She is in fifth grade this year. Fatima speaks, writes, and reads Arabic very well. She reads and comprehends from the Quran. She learned how to pray at AAK when she was seven years old and currently prays all five prayers daily, including the Fajr Prayer (on time). Fatima already imposes on herself the Islamic dress code…. By the way, I will not be exaggerating if I say that 90 percent of what I mentioned above was done by AAK. The other 10 percent is a result of home support. How much of a price can anyone put on such an achievement? I’ll leave that for you to answer…
On the same note, even though Fatima is excelling in Arabic and Islamic knowledge, this is not happening at the expense of the other subjects. Fatima’s English, Math, and Science skills are far more impressive.
May Allah save AAK, reward its faculty, and accept the efforts of everyone who helped in this wonderful project, even with a good word.
Mohammad El-Harithi
We have chosen AAK for many reasons. Chiefly, we have found in AAK what emphasizes the principles upon which we are bringing up our children at home. In addition, teaching the Quran, Islamic studies, and Arabic language—the language of the Quran—produces a Muslim generation that is proud of its identity.
We are praising the efforts of the dedicated, qualified teachers as well as the school administration, which is striving to build up bridges between the school and the homes of the students in order for our children to grow up healthy in both mind and self.
Maha and Wanis El-Raghiby (translation).
As an educator, I know for a fact that a child learns from the surroundings more than anything else. His/her conscience is shaped by the environment in which he/she is growing and not from the abstract imparting of knowledge (e.g. text books, lecturing, preaching, etc.) AAK has provided my child with an environment that helps me meet my first obligation as a father—raising my child as an educated Muslim. If it takes a village to raise a child, it took AAK to preserve the identity of my child.
Wanis H. Shalaby, a parent